UP to 250 people could be made redundant at one of the biggest employers in Droitwich.

Doncasters Group is considering the job cuts at Doncasters Precision Castings’ Deritend factory at the Berry Hill industrial estate.

An announcement has been made to all employees and a formal consultation period, expected to last 90 days, has been launched.

The company hopes to make the reductions through voluntary redundancies and will be liaising closely with the Unite union throughout the process of consultation.

Denis Healy, general manager at Doncasters Precision Castings, said: “Trading conditions continue to be tough in the global power generation markets.

“The decision to rationalise the workforce follows a recent change in customer requirements that has significantly reduced our expected order levels over the coming months.

“With this in mind, and in the context of the wider economic environment, it is important that we take all steps necessary to secure the long term success of the business.

“This is understandably a difficult time for our employees and we will be doing everything we can to provide practical support for those affected.”

The factory makes mach-ine blade and vane airfoils, buckets and nozzles for the gas turbine industry.

Doncasters Precision Cast-ings’ parent company the Doncasters Group has been in existence since 1778 and is a worldwide engineering company specialising in working with metals and alloys that are difficult to shape and form.

It has developed many unique industry-leading technological and manufacturing skills. The group operates from sites in the UK, Europe, the United States, China and Mexico. It employs about 5,250 people worldwide.